Léa Seydoux: Sex scenes are tough

Léa Seydoux doesn't like sex scenes, but prefers them to violence.

The French actress caused a stir when she starred in Abdellatif Kechiche’s Blue Is the Warmest Color, a tale that followed the lesbian love affair of an art student and a teenager.

The graphic sex scenes were a major part of the film, which ran for three hours.

“I’m not a big fan of sex scenes. It’s not my favourite part of the film. I wasn’t surprised by the controversy [they caused]. It’s very unusual to have scenes like that. But why not? I prefer sex to violence,” Léa revealed to British magazine Grazia.

“It was a very intense shoot. I believe he is a great director and I really enjoyed working with him. it’s very rare to have that kind of experience.”

The film was nominated for best foreign language film at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, but missed out to Italy’s The Great Beauty.

However, it has made Léa a well sought out name in Hollywood.

“In France they want you to be the girl next door. In America you can express the fact that you are different,” she said.

“My professional life maybe”, she answered when Grazia if everything had changed after the film. "But not my personal one. But it was good to be able to make a film that touched so many people.

It certainly helped her land a spot on the prestigious Hollywood Issue cover of Vanity Fair magazine this year.

Standing alongside stars such as George Clooney, Idris Elba and Jared Leto, Léa said being a part of issue was “a thrill”.

“It was great that the cover was so diverse. They even had a foreign actress on there – me! I got to fly to LA and meet [photographer] Annie Leibovitz, that was a thrill.” Copyright: Cover Media 2014